The first trading ships arrived from the south and north, and the city finally blossomed. The townspeople, having received the much-needed provisions, decided to organize a celebration for us. However, in the presence of Katrina, they felt awkward and bowed at every opportunity. While the festivities began in the city, I peacefully lay on the distant beach, admiring the starry sky.
"Hmm, there you are," a familiar, serious voice with a hint of displeasure sounded from behind. I didn't need to turn around to recognize our guild-master.
"Hello, Kat, do you want to join?" I asked.
"No, I came to invite you to the celebration. By the way, it's in your honor," she replied.
"Oh, come on, it's no big deal if we're a little late. Lie down, relax, it's so peaceful here."
"Your clothes will get dirty," Katrina crossed her arms dissatisfied. Apparently, she decided to dress more formally for the celebration.
"Here," I took out a rolled-up blanket from under my head, which I had brought just in case.
"Mmm," after some thought, the princess finally took the fabric and laid it on the sand next to me.
"Just take off your boots, it'll be more comfortable," I suggested.
Katrina didn't understand why it was necessary, but obediently put her shoes aside.
"And how did you find me here?"
"I gave her a hint," a girl with even chestnut hair lay on the other side of me.
"Kurone, you do love sneaking up on people," I said.
"And who taught me that?" She threw a playful glance at me.
"So, what is our great strategist doing here? Admiring the stars?"
"Not quite right, I must say!"
"Ha," Katrina chuckled loudly and closed her eyes, "I think you're always lost in your thoughts. Admit it, you're just idling around."
"Not entirely true, this is my special place. You'll see now," I paused.
From the sea, a sharp, cool breeze blew, and the waves began to roll higher onto the shore. In just a minute, they were tickling our heels.
"It's chilly," Kurone shivered a bit. "But quite pleasant. Let me guess, you used to relax here too, right?"
"Yes, I always came here when I wanted to contemplate something new and extraordinary. At night, the waves grow a little bigger, and you can lie here, half submerged in the water. It clears your mind, and you can see things you couldn't see before."
"And did you see a lot here?" Kat turned to me, and I noticed she was playfully splashing her feet in the incoming waves.
"Well, while lying here, I understood why the waves rise higher at night, how the stars move across the night sky. Although I was interested in all that even before I visited Sephris's tomb. After that, I focused only on memorizing and learning the ancient symbols' sounds."
"But you didn't know what they meant?"
"No, but I always knew how to check if I had memorized them correctly," I smirked. "If the text in the cave started to glow, it meant I was right."
"It seems these caves intrigued you a lot," Kurone smiled at the pleasant sensation. "But now you know everything about them."
"Not quite," I disagreed. "Now I have even more questions."
"What kind of questions?"
"Well, for example, who made these bas-reliefs. The inscriptions around the bas-reliefs were written by dragons themselves, without using ancient magic, and the epitaphs were carved along with the bas-reliefs using a long-lasting spell."
"Then it must have been the gods-dragons themselves who made these inscriptions, or at least one of them," the princess shrugged and casually threw her arms behind her head.
"You seem to have forgotten one little detail," I glanced at Kat. "The tomb of Nihelim."
"Oh... There was no one else to make it... Then maybe one of his children made it."
"No, they probably wouldn't have been able to perform such a complex magic, and didn't you notice that his epitaph was written with a certain disdain? Despite his deeds, he was ultimately destroyed by his own fear and envy of human abilities."
"So, someone among humans could have done it. But why..."
"I can only think of the first summoner. I believe he would have had the power to perform such a long-lasting spell of ancient magic. Besides, judging by the fact that he opened portals, he must have been knowledgeable in the language of the ancient gods."
"Well, there you have your answer," Kat tried to dismiss the awkward question.
"Well, who knows, perhaps it could be," Kurone responded with such a serious face that we couldn't help but laugh.
"Who knows, maybe so. In any case, I believe they weren't always enemies, and perhaps if we find out why enmity arose between them..."
"Will we finally be able to reconcile with the empire?" Katrina clapped her hands joyfully.
"See, I told you this place helps you think, and you finally directed your thoughts in the right direction," I remarked.
"Hey! Don't make me look like a fool," she retorted.
"Sorry, sorry," I took a deep breath of the fresh sea air. "Have you never wanted to live like this?"
"Like what? Barefoot on the seashore?"
"Ha, that too, sometimes. But just somewhere in a distant small village where no one knows you. Not dealing with political problems or chasing monsters, but living a simple life with close friends or a loved one. And, of course, sometimes relaxing in nature like this?"
"Hm... When my parents found out about my abilities, they hoped I could earn a small knightly title that would help our family in the future," Kurone sighed sadly. "But I was uncertain about my powers, and so I often wanted to just run away. Maybe at that time, without a moment's hesitation, I would have answered yes to you, but now I am content with the life I have, and I wouldn't want to change it."
"And what about you, Kat? I understand you're a princess and all that, but maybe deep down, it's not what you really want?"
Katrina remained silent. Eventually, the silence grew so long that we instinctively turned towards her. She was quietly staring at the water, playing with the sand.
"To live peacefully in a village with loved ones and friends..." Kat paused briefly. "Yes, perhaps I would like to live like that, but I can't. First, I want to make my country better than it is now, and maybe someday..."
The princess didn't finish her sentence; she turned away and quickly walked away from the beach.
"Alright, enough wasting time, everyone is waiting for us over there," Katrina's voice trembled as she climbed up the slope.